Stock feeding mechanism for lathes



Aug. 17, 1948. J. G. HORRIGAN 2,447,180

STOCK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR LTHES Filed Oct. 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1NR- N 1w in- MN QN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ion fum. `o o ug- 17 1948- J. G.HORRIGAN STOCK FEEDING MECHANISM FOR LATHES Filed Oct. 2, 1944 PatentedAug. 17, 1948 STOCK FEEDNG MECHANISM FORLATHES Joh-n George Horrgan,London, England,.assignor of one-half to Bertie Alfred Pettitt,Stanmore,

England Application Octoberl 2, 1944, Serial' No. 556,826

In' Great Britain October 21, 19453y 2 Claims. (o1. 29%59) This,invention relates to stock feeding mech-` anism for capstan and turretlathes, or auto-` matic machines, for example, automatic screwcutting.machines, of the type wherein bar or similar stock is fed axiallythrough a hollow headstock spindle to enable repetition work to becarriedk out. The stock is usually held at the headstock by asplit-collet type chuck.

In known mechanism of thisy type the stockk has been fed through thehollow headstockV vide improved mechanism of the type described.

AA further object of the invention is to provide apparatus using a feedtube for the stock andy pressure fluid for feeding the stock through thetube in which the pressure fluid supply is auto-Y matically cut-01T whennew stock is. being. fed: into the feed tube.

One form. of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan;

Fig. 3 is a plan View similar to Fig. 2, but show- Y ing. the stock tubein the charging positiongy Fig. 4 isY a cross-sectional elevation.taken.. on'.

line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

VFig; 5 is an enlarged plan View of the nozzle device, with the coverremoved; and f Fig. 6z is a sectional elevation taken on line *VT-VI ofFig. 5.

A tubular member I0, hereinafter referred to as the stool; tube, ismounted on suitable pillars so asv to be held in axial alignment withthe hollow headstock spindle II of a capstan or turret lathe, automaticmachine or the` lke,'hereinafter referred to as the machine. The stocktube Ill.v is: mounted on two pillars I2 and I3`, the pillar I3 adjacentthe headstock I Iy being of a type whereby the end of the stock tube Imay be moved to onev side of the headstock to allow stock to be insertedinto the tube; the other pillar I2 is suitably constructed. to rotate ona vertical axis to allow such. sideways movement of the stock: tube..For example, the pillar I3 is; provided with any elongated saddle I4 ofchannel formation in which the stock tubev IIl is supported; when the,tube I 0 is disposed at one end of the saddle I4, as shown in Figs. 2`and 4, the tube is in alignment with the headstock spindle; when thetube is disposed at the other end of the saddle, as shownv in- Fig. 3,the tube is out of alignment with the headstock; spindle and is thenadapted to receive a newf lengthv of stock asl hereinafter described. Abar or flange l5 may extend partially or wholly across the top of thesaddle I4 to pre.- vent the stock tube I0 lifting. The pillar I2 mayprovide a socket I6 for a vertical spigot I1., the spigot beingprovidedl on its upper end with a collar I8; the spigot I1 may rotate inthe socket I6=. The endV I9 of the stock tube I0 adjacent the headstockis open to enable stock tobe passedtherethrough into the tube, and toenable the stock toI pass from the tube to the hollow head-` stockspindle I- I'.

An adaptor 20, having an. axial passage 2l therethrough is provided witha flange 22 on one end adapted to be engaged by the flanged end of anut23, the said nut being screw-threaded interna-ll-y tov engage anexternal screwthread on the end 2li.v of' thestock tube remote from theheadstock spindle I.I, whereby the said adaptor 2li` may be secured tothel stock tube Iii' with the passage 2;I substantially in axialalignment with the said' tube Ill. The adaptor' 2Il is screwthreaded atits other end 215 to enable` it to be connected to a fluid control box26.

The control boxV 26' is provided with an inlet nozzle 21 to which aflexible or other air supply pipe may be connected, and` an outletnozzlel 28 tov which theA adaptor 20 is connected. A conical valve. 2S'is disposed in a seating 36 in the box 26 whereby' the through passagefrom the inlet nozzle 21 to the outlet nozzle 28' may be opened` or'closed or otherwise control-led. The valve 29 is mountedVV on a` lever3|, intermediately of thev ends: of said lever, one arm 32 of the saidlever being connected to an operating rod 33 and being adapted to`engage a fixed stop itil, the other arm 35 of. the lever being adapted`to engage an adjustabl'e stop 35i; When' the arm 32- engages the stop 34the valveZS Will close the passage through con-trol box 26. |Ehe saidvpassage is opened by pulling theerod 313 and the extent to which thesaid passage may be opened will be determined by the engagement ofthearm 35 with the adjustable stop 3E. A compression spring 31 alsoengages'. the arm. 32: to return the lever. 3l andY valve, Z3 totheclosed position when the rod 33 is re leasedrlhe box is provided with alcover 38.

The operating rod 33 passes through a tube 39 rigidly secured bybrackets to the stock tube I so as to move therewith and is provided atits end near the headstock spindle with a head 4D. A bell crank-lever 4Iis mounted on a pivot 42 on the saddle I4, one end 43 of said leverbeing of hook formation adapted to embrace partially the rod 33immediately behind the head 40 in such a manner that when the lever 4Iis operated the end 43 will engage the head 40 of the rod 33 and saidrod will be pulled so as to operate the valve 29 in the control box 26.The hooked end 43 of the lever 4I is open at one side so that when thestock tube I0 together with the rod 33 and the tube 39 therefor aremoved to one side in the saddle I4 so that the stock tube I0 is outof'aXial alignment with the headstock spindle I I, the rod 33 is movedout of engagement with the lever 4I The other end 44 of the lever 4I isconnected to a rod 45 which is in turn connected to a bracket or clip 46secured to the handle 41 on the machine which is adapted, when operated,to open or close the collet which holds the stock in the machine.Suitably, the rod 45passes freely through a rotatable bush 48 in the end44 of the lever 4 I, and the rod is provided with an adjustable collar49 whereby the amount of movement which can be given to the handle 41before the lever 4I is operated may be adjusted. When the handle 41 ismoved in the direction of the arrow A to open the collet in the machine,the lever 4I is operated to pull the rod 33 and so open the valve 29;when the handle 41 is moved in the opposite direction to close thecollet the rod 33 is released and the valve 29 closed.

A rod B, adapted to form a free piston, is disposed within the stocktube I0 and is adapted tol be forced along the said stock tube bypneumatic pressure when fluid, allowed to enter the stock tube throughthe control box 26, acts upon the adjacent end 53 of the said piston.The other end 5I of the piston 50 is adapted to engage the end of thestock bar 52 and may be recessed to facilitate this engagement. Thelength of the piston is such that when the forward end 5I has passed outof the open end I9 of the stock tube IG, through the hollow headstockspindle I I,

and is adjacent to the chuck of the machine, the rear end 53 is disposedoutside the headstock spindle so that the piston may be easily'withdrawn therefrom. The end I9 of the stock tube In may be cut awaylongitudinally along one side as shown at 54, so that when the stocktube is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 for the insertion of a newstock piece, the piston 53, then disposed mainly within the headstockspindle II but probably having its rear end 53 still disposed within thetube I3, will not prevent such movement of the stock tube.

In use, a stock bar 52 upon which operations are to be effected in themachine, is passed into the stock tube I0 from the open end I9, when thetube is in the position shown in Fig. 3, `and thereby presses the piston50 towards the rear end 24 of the stock tube. If a stock bar has alreadybeen operated upon and the piston 50 is disposed within the headstockspindle I I, the piston is withdrawn manually from said spindle andplaced into the stock tube I9 before the new stock bar is placed in thetube Ill. The stock tube is swung back to the position shown in Fig. 2,whereby the bell-crank lever 4I engages the rod 33. The handle 41 isoperated to open the spring collet lof the machine and at the same timethe rod 33 is pulled by the handle 41 to place the EZ O fected on thestock bar.

valve 29 in the open position. Compressed air passes through the valve29 to the stock tube I0 and presses the piston 5B forward, therebyforcing the stock bar through the headstock spindle I I, through theopen collet and up to the tail stop on the capstan, turret or other partof the machine. The handle 41 is again operated to close the colletwhereby the collet grips the stock bar, and at the same time the rod 33is released and the spring 31 moves the valve 29 to the closed positionthereby shutting off the supply of air to the stock tube. The operationsare then ef- When the work piece has been parted oi the stock, thecollet is opened, by operating the handle 41, the valve 29 is againopened and the stock bar is fed forward again up to the tail stop. Theseoperations are continued until the whole of the bar has been operatedupon.

The stock may, of course, be a tube, and will be operated upon in asimilar manner to a solid bar.

When the stock tube I9 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 toenable a new stock bar to be fed thereinto, the rod 33 is disconnectedfrom the bell crank-lever 4I in the manner hereinbefore described.Thereby, should the handle 41 be operated whilst the stock tube is inthe position indicated, the rod 33 will not be pulled and y the valve 29will not be opened; consequently, any possibility of the valve beingopened to allow air to pass into the stock tube and project the piston5D and/or the stock bar out of the stock tube when the said tube is notin alignment with the hollow headstock spindle is avoided.

In a modiiied method of operating the valve through which fluid isallowed to enter the stock tube, the handle 41 is connected to the valveby a exible rod or wire so that when the handle is operated to open thecollet the valve is pulled into the open position. The stock tube I0mayV be prevented from being moved sideways in the saddle I4 to move itout of alignment with the head stock spindle, by a vertical pin Iwhichpasses through the saddle to one side of the tube I D; the valveoperating rod or wire may also pass round said pin, the pin causing therod or wire to bend between the handle 41 and the Valve. When the pin isremoved to allow the tube I0 to be moved sideways, the rod or wire willalso be released, and any movement of the handle 41 will merely causethe rod or wire to straighten out without operating the Valve.

Whilst the construction described employs pneumatic fluid, it is obviousthat hydraulic iluid may be employed, a suitable nozzle and associatedmembers being employed.

What I'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l. Stock feedingmechanism for lathes, of the type that include a hollow headstockspindle and a collet, said mechanism comprising a stock tube, meanssupporting said stock tube for angular movement from a working positionin axial registry with the hollow headstock spindle to a loadingposition out of registry with the hollow headstock spindle, apiston-like member disposed within said tube, said tube being open atits end adjacent the headsto-ck spindle, conduit'means for connecting asource of iiuid under pressure to the other end ofthe said tube, anormally closed valve in said conduit means, control means for openingsaid valve to control the supply of fluid to said tubular member, a partof said control means being pivoted to the machine and another part ofsaid control means being mounted on said stock tube for movementtherewith, a first interlocking element on the part of the control meansthat is mounted on the stock tube, a second interlocking element on thepart of the control means that is pivoted to the machine, said secondinterlocking element lying in the path of movement of said rstinterlocking element as the latter moves into Working position, saidelements mutually interlocking in the working position to render thevalve operating means operable and automatically disconnecting in theloading position whereby the Valve is closed in that position, a controlmember for opening and closing the collet of the machine, meansconnecting said control member to that part of the controlA means whichis mounted on the machine.

2. Stock feeding mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the part of theValve control means mounted on and moving with the stock tube comprisesa connecting rod connected to the valve to actuate the same, and theother part of the valve control means comprises a lever actuated by thecontrol member through the means connecting the control member to saidlever, the first interlocking element comprising a head on saidconnecting rod and the second interlocking element comprising aprojection on said lever engaging said head when the stock tube is inits working position.

JOHN GEORGE HORRIGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '714,895 Hanson Dec. 2, 19022,003,152 Lange et al May 28, 1935 2,300,457 Mariotte Nov. 3, 1942FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 116,896 Australia Apr. 27, 1942

